Originally Posted by
Ned1968
Flights from LIH-HNL appear to be fairly frequent and inexpensive, so in theory I could just add a 35 minute LIH-HNL hop to the start of my return and keep everything unchanged. But I wondered if I could ask BA to do this and make it part of the ticket so I'm protected for any misconnections? (Oneworld doesn't fly this route so it would involve a leg on Hawaiian)
If BA can add the HA LIH-HNL flight to your existing ticket, that would be ideal. If you have to get yourself from LIH to HNL on a separate ticket, HA is not your only alternative. Southwest, which offers six daily LIH-HNL nonstops in April for just $49 one way, is an option. Southwest fares all include two free checked bags, if that is a factor in your case. You would have to claim and re-check your bags with AA at HNL, bit you might have to do that anyway if you flew HA on a separate ticket.
Southwest had an operational meltdown this week due to the U.S. snowstorms this week, but I expect them to be fully recovered in a week or so. And HA has had its own operational problems recently. Here's a thread detailing one such problem by a traveler who, coincidentally, was also on a Budapest to Hawaii roundtrip ticket:
Missed Alaska segment on AA ticket
(See, especially, Post #3.)
If you do have to travel LIH-HNL on a separate ticket, give yourself lots of time to self-connect, in case of delays.